Council approves Amory’s Wharf living‑shoreline contract, transfers funds for construction

Poquoson City Council voted 7-0 to authorize additional capital appropriations and to allow the city manager to enter a contract with Coastal Design & Construction Inc. for the Amory’s Wharf Living Shoreline project.

Laura Nuss, the city’s environmental compliance officer, summarized the project scope and procurement. “The scope of work includes an enhanced kayak ramp, two granite riprap sills located on either side of the kayak ramp, and the shoreline will then be backfilled with clean sand and planted with native wetland plantings,” Nuss said. She told council the city issued an invitation for bids in April 2025 and received five bids; the lowest bid was $237,179 from Coastal Design and Construction Inc.

Nuss said the city previously set aside funding through two ordinances — cited in the meeting as ordinance 717558 (Aug. 14, 2023) and ordinance 1773 (Feb. 20, 2024) — totaling $224,009, and staff had used $2,500 on planning, design and permitting. That left an available appropriation of $221,509, she said. To proceed, staff recommended transferring $685,000 from the city’s capital project unrestricted fund balance and an additional $19,330 for change orders and project signage.

A councilmember noted initial estimates in 2023 anticipated approximately $100,000 with a hoped‑for $50,000 grant; that grant funding did not materialize because the city lacked a coastal resilience plan, the councilmember said. Council members asked about maintenance and whether the living shoreline would rebuild lost elevation; Nuss responded that the sills and vegetation are erosion‑inhibitive and that the structure should be largely self-sustaining, although storm cleanup is likely.

The bid award and appropriation were approved and the motion carried 7-0. Councilmembers were told staff will execute the contract with Coastal Design & Construction Inc. and monitor project execution and any change orders under the authorized contingency.